| Week at the Wheel | SEAT Alhambra Ecomotive |

Inside & Out:

MPVs are rarely good lookers and the Alhambra is no exception. Its shape is a familiar sight given its similar VW and Ford relatives, but it is rather bland and lacking in visual drama or points of interest. Ecomotive, SEAT's nomenclature for its green models, brings with it lowered suspension and plain wheel trims for improved aerodynamics, aimed at eking out as much mileage per unit of fuel as is possible. However, as usual, MPVs are never really about what's on the outsid; it's the interior most buyers are concerned about.

Here, the Alhambra fares much better with an array of family friendly features ranging from its basic roominess and accommodation through to a flexible seating system, easily used via its range of handles and straps, and there are even child boosters integrated into the rear seats - a clever and practical alternative to carrying several bulky items.

Engine & Transmission:

Part of the Ecomotive package is some tinkering under the bonnet, where the familiar VW Group 2.0-litre turbodiesel has been retuned for economy, although outputs remain more than respectable at 136bhp and 229lb.ft of torque. The revised mapping has been complemented by longer gearing to reduce engine speed in everyday driving. In practice, these changes do blunt the performance very slightly, but given the Alhambra's role in life - and the basic suitability of the diesel engine for such applications - there is no discernible penalty. The trade off is obvious at the pumps where an average of almost 40mpg will please any parent.

In terms of manners the Alhambra is fine at a cruise in its long legged sixth ratio. However, engine noise is pronounced, with the turbo in particular making more of a contribution than one would hope for. On top of that, our test car did demonstrate a slightly odd surging during driving, accompanied by the sound of the turbo spooling up and then slowing again. It's hard to tell whether that was a problem or part of the mapping; it was noticeable though.

Ride & Handling:

SEAT's marketing speak does make a play of the Ecomotive's 'sport suspension' (which is principally fitted for aerodynamic reasons as mentioned above) and its contribution to the driving experience, but in practice the Alhambra offers little in terms of driving enjoyment or handling prowess; it's a fairly conventional MPV from that perspective. The ride is comfortable, though we didn't have the opportunity to fit in the full count of passengers.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

The Alhambra's standard equipment list includes much of what the average family would need in terms of practical usage. Dual zone climate, front and rear, is a well conceived inclusion, as are the lightly tinted rear windows - in a car where the most sensitive occupants are those likely to be in the back such additions are hard to undervalue. In terms of value the list price of just over £19,000 has to be considered good bang for buck. Ten minutes browsing online got this down to nearer £16,500, at which price the Alhambra begins to make even more sense. Running costs are likely to be low thanks to the good fuel economy, low tax and relatively cheap servicing.

Overall:

As an economic means of moving a family around the SEAT Alhambra takes a lot of beating - especially in new Ecomotive guise. The list price undercuts most rivals by a handy margin and the running costs are likely to be as low as it gets in a people carrier. However, unless that economy is the absolute priority when it comes to the purchase decision, there are many newer, more appealing rivals that outpoint the SEAT.